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by Eric Wentworth

A recent article in Wired magazine writes about digital detox summer camps for teens. At these camps, teens must leave their phones at home, unplug from video games and social media, and eat nourishing food instead of Doritos, candy, and soft drinks. They are required to spend time in nature and socialize in person with other teens. 

This “traumatic” experience is such a shock to many that they try to escape the camp.

In the end, most look back on their detox summer camp experience as transformative. But for many, the lure of technology sucks them back into their internet addiction.

Breaking the toxic, addictive cycle of modern adolescence is necessary, albeit difficult.

PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN A TEEN’S LIFE. 

Protecting and guiding your teen for a successful and productive life is the primary responsibility of all parents. 

We have talked about the dangers of smartphones, the internet, and social media in detail. But there is another challenging issue teens face that is just as critical.

Teen health and fitness. 

Today, many of our teens are doomed to a lifetime of physical and mental challenges unlike any previous modern generation. Teens today are the unhealthiest generation in modern American history. 

The old saying “you are what you eat” has never been truer.

One study found that more than 80% of American teens follow an unhealthy diet.

Only 27% of American high school students eat breakfast daily, according to the Centers for Disease Control. When they do have breakfast, it’s often a bowl of sugary cereal, Pop-Tarts, flavored yogurt, or a donut. Both skipping breakfast and eating ultra-processed, high sugar content food have been linked to depression and feelings of sadness or hopelessness in teens. 

FACT: Teens skipping breakfast can result in poor grades, depression, lack of motivation, more likely to become obese, and less cognitive functioning.

Ultra-processed food now accounts for 52% of the calories consumed by children and teens, and is a significant contributor to being overweight or obese. 

Obesity in adolescence is correlated to adult health risks: overweight and obese teens are 18 times more likely to be obese as adults. Early obesity increases risks of Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, and some cancers. 

FAST FOOD IS A FAST ROUTE TO POOR HEALTH.

One-third of teenagers eat fast food on any given day. Fast foods are often highly processed, fried, laden with additives and chemicals, made with seed oils, and of poor nutritional quality. 

As a result, roughly 39% of U.S. youths are overweight or obese today.

Compare this with a much lower incidence in the 1950s and 1960s, when the figures were in single digits. A comparison of a photo taken at the beach in 1960 with the same photo today reveals a stark contrast; the people at the beach 75 years ago are almost entirely trim and fit, whereas the opposite is true today. 

The poor health trifecta for teens is fast food and ultra-processed foods, combined with a significant increase in sedentary lifestyles.

Teens with poor diet quality show higher cardiometabolic risk, including increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and diabetes later in life. These diseases are showing up much earlier today---frequently in the 30s and 40s---than in the past.

Poor nutrition and obesity have been linked to an alarming rise in the risk of colorectal cancer, often among people in their 20s.

The impact of poor nutrition on teens’ developing brains is severe. Poor diet and lack of exercise increase mental health concerns such as mood disorders, anxiety, and depression. Some studies link diets high in fat, sugar, and chemical additives to lasting memory impairments, potentially through neurotransmitter disruptions, even if the diet improves later in life. 

YOU CAN HELP YOURSELF AND YOUR TEEN. EAT MINDFULLY.

The unfortunate truth is that parents are to blame as much as the Big Food industry for causing teens to be unhealthy.  

Your children learn much about who they become from the behavior you model. In other words, you need to clean up your health to help your teens.

Shockingly, as of 2023, 40.3% of U.S. adults aged 20 and over were classified as obese (39.2% of men and 41.3% of women). Another 31% of adults are overweight. So, nearly 3 out of 4 Americans are overweight or obese.

One in ten American adults has severe obesity, with higher percentages among women (12.1% vs 6.7% of men). Severely obese people were an anomaly in America just 75 years ago. It’s gotten so bad in the U.S. that Europeans sometimes refer to Americans as “bubble people.”

What your teens are identifying with at home is harming them. They see out-of-shape, sick parents who indulge in poor dietary choices and who seldom get any exercise. 

One in nine American adults has diabetes, a disease that was almost unheard of in 1950. A third of adults in the U.S. are pre-diabetic.

Heart disease and cancers, the two top causes of death in the U.S., are primarily caused by poor nutrition. 

Poor nutrition has become so much the norm in our country that television commercials now typically include a person who is overweight or obese. Big and Beautiful clothing sizes are a big (pun intended) trend. 

GOOD NUTRITION RUNS IN THE FAMILY.

A healthy diet can add as many as 10 – 13 years to a lifespan, according to some estimates. Furthermore, a nutritious diet can increase your healthspan---the number of years you live without a debilitating disease. 

Several studies have validated that dietary preferences run in families for generations. It makes sense that poor nutritional knowledge by parents will become the dietary preferences of their children.

So, to break the pattern, parents need to break their own poor dietary choices. Admittedly, it isn’t easy to do. Dietary habits can be challenging to change. But eating healthy can be a delicious alternative to your old habits. 

Parents can start by educating themselves about food. There are many reliable science-based sources. 

Two popular podcasters who frequently have guest appearances by scientists, nutritionists, and fitness experts are Andrew Huberman, a Stanford professor with more than 7 million subscribers, and Steve Bartlett, a podcaster with more than 12 million subscribers. Listening to these podcasts will not only help educate you about nutrition but also a range of other health and fitness topics. They can help keep your interest and motivation up as you transition to a healthy lifestyle. 

There are dozens of books on health and nutrition you can read to refine your family fitness protocol. 

A few to check out are: Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity by Dr. Peter Attia, Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health by Dr. Casey Means,  How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease, by Michael Greger, M.D. and FOOD: What the Heck Should I Eat, by Dr. Mark Hyman (who is also a popular podcaster).

To further educate yourself, you can read The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth by Jonny Bowden, PhD, or The World’s Healthiest Foods by George Mateljan. Both books are hard to find in bookstores, but used copies are available on Amazon for as low as $10. If you limited your food intake to the foods described in these books, you would likely avoid diseases, increase your brain power, have more vitality, and live longer. 

Make nutrition and good health a family affair. Engage your teens to get their input and advice about how to create a healthy protocol that works for your family. 

To begin, here are a few basic tips:

1. Read food labels. If the ingredients sound like they are chemical additives, or the first ingredient is some form of sugar, or the product is highly processed, skip it. Eat only natural, organic foods. If it came from a plant, good. If it’s made in a plant, bad.

2. Use a food scanner smartphone app, such as Yuka, FoodIQ, Bobby Approved, Clean Eats, or Pure Food Scanner, to scan products and determine their health profile. 

3. Learn to love fruits and vegetables. 

4. Limit sweets and snack foods. Americans spent $230 billion on general snack foods last year. They also spent $170 billion on potato chips, $91 billion on cookies, and $164 billion on candy.

5. Stop eating at fast food restaurants (or limit them severely). In 2023, Americans spent $348 billion on fast food. Fast food is a fast way to poor health.

6. Drink water, not soda (especially diet soda). Americans spent $390 billion on sweetened beverages in 2024.

7. Include good sources of protein such as organic eggs, dairy, poultry, seafood, and grass-fed beef.

8. Since many Americans are deficient in key vitamins, it’s a good idea to take supplements to ensure you are getting enough to help maintain good health. It’s especially true for teens to support their developing physical and mental capabilities. 

Ideally, you should get all your vitamins from food. But even for people on a healthy diet, it often isn’t possible. Vitamin D, for instance, is difficult to get naturally for people who spend most of their time indoors or who live in northern latitudes. Most people don’t get enough magnesium in their diet. Teens may be deficient in several key vitamins and minerals due to their high consumption of junk foods. 

Our advice is to take a high-quality multi-vitamin or drink a glass of a dietary supplement such as AG1, which includes vitamins, prebiotics and probiotics, minerals, antioxidants, and digestive enzymes.

YOUR INVESTMENT IN HEALTH WILL PAY DIVIDENDS FOR LIFE.

Your teens’ future is highly dependent on being fit and healthy. Good health and fitness habits now will impact them for their entire lives. 

A teen’s physical and mental health are too important to take lightly. 

Make health and fitness the #1 priority. Break ingrained bad nutrition habits. Learn to live a healthier and more vibrant lifestyle. Your teen’s future depends on it. 

by Eric Wentworth

We don't have to tell you that being a teenage student in 2025 is a LOT different than when their parents were high school students. 

It can be a scary world for teens (and their parents).

Teens experience traditional back-to-school stressors such as reconnecting with friends, meeting new people, adjusting to unfamiliar teachers, and navigating social groups. These are all things parents and teens can usually navigate successfully.

Additionally, they encounter contemporary challenges, including bullying (both online and offline), the influence of smartphones and social media, scams, readily available illegal drugs, and instances of school violence.

Teens can meet these new challenges with awareness and advanced preparation. 

And a little help and guidance from parents.

Remember, your emotional intelligence and mindfulness are the best role models for your teen. Creating a mindful, respectful, and loving relationship with your teen will influence their success in life more than anything else. 

ü Before the new school year begins, please take a few minutes to discuss with your teen their expectations, fears, and hopes, encouraging your teen to share openly how they feel about returning to school. 

Don't be surprised if your teen is nervous or scared about the upcoming school year. You may discover fears you had no idea about, and fears that you may have also felt as a teenager. This shared experience can lead to finding novel ways to overcome their fears. 

* Revisit the importance of mindfulness: kindness to others, helpfulness, respect for others who may be different, speaking up to protect others who are bullied, and being aware of others' feelings.

* Stress the importance of getting to know the school counselors and their teachers. These people want to help students succeed. They can also often head off problems your teen may be experiencing.

* Talk about sextortion and deepfakes. This is a growing problem, one that states and schools are quickly addressing with rules and regulations, as well as strict legislation. Explain that some students and predators may create fake photos or videos using authentic images taken from online social media accounts to bully or extort money. Let your teen know it's okay to come to you immediately if anything uncomfortable happens online. 

Tell your teens never to share nude or suggestive photos with a friend. Once an image has been used against them, it is difficult or impossible to remove from the internet. The long-term repercussions can be severe. Your teen doesn't want a pornographic image showing up during a background check for a college or job application. These images can be embarrassing, despite being fakes. Imagine how  it would be to explain them to future boyfriends or girlfriends . . . and their friends and relatives. 

Advise your teen to refrain from sending suggestive photos to trusted friends, including boyfriends. Parents note: Some studies indicate that more than 1 in 5 teens have engaged in some form of sexting before age 18.

Teens should report online abuse immediately and report inappropriate messages on Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, and other social media. 

Remind teens that school laptops and tablets are typically monitored and not private.

* Discuss school safety drills with school administrators and your teen. What do students need to do during a lockdown, fire drills, and active shooter situations? Know the school's security policies.

Remind your teen to report any threats, verbal, written, or online, to teachers or school administrators. They are trained to protect the privacy of those who report these incidents.  

Create a contact plan for your teens to get in touch when an incident does occur.

Set up a distinctive ringtone on your phone for use during emergencies. 

Create a unique code word that your teen can use when they need help or an escape from a dangerous situation. Use this code word to prevent scammers from imitating your teen's voice with artificial intelligence. 

Select a convenient and safe meeting place, should you need one. 

* Help your teens identify and prevent bullying or peer pressure. Know what it looks like. It's not just physical; it can include rumors, purposeful exclusion, threats, and online harassment.

Discuss with your teen how to support someone who is bullied without putting themselves at risk. 

Show your teen how being confident to resist peer pressure works in their favor. Other teens respect you when you know your boundaries. Simply saying "No thanks," That's not my thing," or "I've got to be somewhere" can diffuse the pressure to go along. 

In recent years, there has been a rise in bullying, especially among teens. As a result, most schools have a no-tolerance policy about bullying. Review this policy with your teen. 

* Finally, talk with your teen about transportation and after-school safety. 

Map out a safe route together, whether your teen is walking, biking, or riding the bus. 

Stay in well-lit areas, preferably with other teens and adults present.

Encourage your teen to travel with trusted friends or their parents. 

Make it clear that your teens must inform you of what they plan to do or where they are going after regular school hours. Your permission is non-negotiable. 

Keep emergency contacts updated, including your teen's friends and their parents. And ensure that the school teachers and administrators have your current phone numbers and email addresses.

Final reminders:

• Stay connected with your teen. Check in daily without judgment. 
• Model the behavior you want to see in your teen. It's the best thing you can "teach" them.
• Always keep communication open. Let your teen know you are there to help them, not punish.
• Empower your teen to advocate for their safety and the safety of others. 

By Dr. Greg Hammer

Sex is an important component of healthy relationships between two people. Sex is front and center for most teens. A majority of teens will have sex with a partner before they graduate from high school, according to the National Survey of Family Growth.[1]Unfortunately, adolescents may engage in sex before they are mentally and physically prepared. While physical intimacy can be a source of meaningful connectedness and confidence for teens, it can also be traumatic. 

Teenage pregnancy can be devastating for those not intending to become pregnant. The majority of teen pregnancies are, in fact, unwanted. Nearly 200,000 teenagers become pregnant each year in the United States. More than 1/3 of these are terminated by abortion. Those that proceed are associated with a variety of challenges. 

Teen mothers are at an increased risk of adverse health problems, including pre-eclampsia, anemia, and preterm labor, often resulting in premature infant births. Even when carried to term, babies are more likely to have low birth weight, potentially leading to long-term health and developmental complications for the child. Premature and low birthweight babies are at risk for having behavioral and cognitive impairment, as well as eventually becoming teenage parents themselves.

Teenage pregnancies, especially among unwed mothers, often occur in areas of the US in which prenatal healthcare and education may be less than ideal. This includes poverty-stricken regions of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. Poor pregnancy outcomes are correlated with poverty. 

The demands of raising a child among teenage moms are great and often lead to dropping out of school. This may propagate the cycle of limited education, restricted job opportunities, poverty, and undesired pregnancy.

The stress of pregnancy may lead to mental health issues, especially since teens are still developing physically and emotionally. This is commonly exacerbated by social stereotyping from friends and family members, predisposing to poor self-esteem, guilt, shame, and depression. 

Teenage sex may lead to the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Unprotected sex among adolescents is common due to predisposition to risk-taking behavior and lack of education about the hazards involved. As a result, millions of teens acquire STDs every year in the US. The most common STD is chlamydia.[2]Around 80% of cases are asymptomatic, so the great majority of those infected would only be made aware via screening. Though the CDC recommends that all sexually active females under the age of 25 undergo annual screening, only a small minority are tested. Unfortunately, chlamydia infection may lead to infertility and painful, chronic pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). 

Genital herpes due to herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2 is also common among teens. HSV is highly contagious and can remain latent and potentially reactivated at any time, often due to stress. It can be spread even when the infected individual has no symptoms. 

Another common STD is human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV infection predisposes to cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancer in females and throat cancer and genital warts in males and females. The HPV vaccine is safe and effective. Pre-teens aged 11-12 years are advised to receive two injections 6-12 months apart, or three shots if not started before age 15.

What can parents do to mitigate the risk of unsafe teenage sex and STD transmission? They can talk openly in a calm, non-threatening, and non-judgmental manner with their teens. They can help educate their teens as to the importance of either abstinence or condom use, making sex as safe as possible. Parents can provide educational materials about pregnancy and STDs. They can encourage and facilitate STD screening. 

By addressing these key issues, parents and other trusted adults can help teens understand the complexities of sex and make responsible, carefully considered choices regarding their sexual health and well-being
   

[1] https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article-abstract/131/5/886/31308/Sexual-Initiation-Contraceptive-Use-and-Pregnancy?redirectedFrom=fulltext

[2] Corcoran JL, Li P, Davies SL, Knight CC, Lanzi RG, et al. Adolescent chlamydia rates by region, race, and sex: Trends from 2013 to 2017, J Ped Health Care 2021;35(2);172-9. ISSN 0891-5245, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedhc.2020.09.004.

By Dr. Greg Hammer

Allowing versus prohibiting the use of cell phones in schools represents a controversy in the US. While cell phones are useful tools for communication, safety, and learning, they also divert students’ attention away from classroom education. What are the arguments on both sides?

It is well known that cell phone use by students can be very distracting, thereby negatively impacting academic performance. According to a study by the London School of Economics, banning cell phones was associated with more than a 6% boost in test scores (https://cep.lse.ac.uk/_NEW/NEWS/abstract.asp?index=5013). The benefit of banning cell phones seems to be especially beneficial for low-achieving students and younger children in elementary school. 

Another plus in favor of banning cell phones for a significant portion of the week is the associated decrease in exposure to cyberbullying. Limited cell phone use translates to a reduction in the time during the day that teens experience cyberbullying. More than one third of students between 12 and 17 years of age are victimized, with many incidents occurring during school hours (https://cyberbullying.org/2019-cyberbullying-data).

Eliminating cell phone usage during school encourages social interaction. Students who are “addicted” to using their phones have less opportunity for in-person interactions with their peers. In schools in which cell phones are banned, students tend to engage more with each other during recess and lunchtime (https://www.panoramaed.com/blog/how-do-cellphones-affect-students-in-school#:~:text=*%20Lack%20of%20Focus%20on%20Education:%20Studies,may%20prioritize%20quick%20answers%20over%20deeper%20learning.)

For these reasons, banning cell phone use at school appears to contribute to improved mental health among teens.

What about arguments against banning cell phones in school?

Parents are generally reassured knowing they can contact their children (or vice-versa) in case of urgent need, such as security threats in the schools, family emergency, injury, or natural disaster. 

Banning cell phones could disproportionately affect lower-income students who rely on their smartphones to access learning tools – they may not have laptops or tablets. Cellphones serve as valuable learning instruments when properly used. These devices facilitate instant access to research online. Banning them could preclude engagement in interactive learning, problem-solving, and preparation for navigating an increasingly digital world.

Enforcing the banning of cellphones may be challenging for teachers. Middle- and high school students may resist complying with policies limiting or banning cell phone use during school hours.

The decision to ban cellphones at school is not as black and white as it may appear. The benefits include reduced cyberbullying, improved mental health, and less distraction in school. The potential hazards include compromised ability for parents to contact their children in case of emergency and missed opportunities for learning, especially for children of lower-income parents. 

Teachers and school administrators seem to be increasingly in favor of cellphone bans during school hours as evidenced by such policies at a growing number of schools. Several states have enacted laws restricting or eliminating cellphone use at school, including Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina, California, Ohio, Indiana, and Virginia. Many school districts in other states have also jumped on the bandwagon.

By Dr. Greg Hammer

The internet, social media, and smartphones offer many resources for teens – and also a platform for bullies to do harm to our youth. The harassment, threatening, and humiliating via these technologies is called “cyberbullying.” Examples include sending mean emails, texts, or postings and sharing intimate photos on social media platforms. Some cyberbullies have created hate groups of website against an individual or excluding them from an online group.

Which apps are most often utilized for cyberbullying? Instagram is in first place, followed by Facebook and Snapchat.[1]The perpetrators are often unidentifiable and anonymous. 

More than 1/3 of teens have reported cyberbullying – the incidence is likely even greater.[2] 

Cyberbullying takes a variety of forms. Doxxing refers to the exposure of private information intended to humiliate and/or harass its target. This may take the form of posting embarrassing photographs or pages from a diary. Revenge porninvolves posting of intimate images, e.g. from a former boyfriend. AI enhances the ability of cyberbullies to create fake photos and videos that are almost impossible to distinguish from the real thing. 

Another form of cyberbullying is the spreading of malicious rumors that appear to be factual but are often not so.

The damage caused by cyberbullying can be immense and long-lasting. Depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, and low self-esteem have been documented. The great majority of victims have sadness, powerlessness, and hopelessness.[3]Teen victims are likely to feel isolated. They may suffer physical maladies, including headaches, stomach aches, or insomnia.

A useful helpline for those feeling suicidal is 1-800-273-8255.

For parents, teachers, counselors, and coaches, there are several signs of cyberbullying of which to be aware:

• 1. Withdrawal from social interaction;
• 2. Detachment from friends and family or sports and other activites;
• 3. A drop-off in school performance or refusal to attent school;
• 4. Demonstrative signs of depression, anger, and irritability;
• 5. New onset of physical signs as above.
• What can parents do when their teenagers are cyberbullied? Below are several important considerations.
• 1. Teens are best served by not responding to cyberbullying posts, regardless of how horrific they may be. Replying to posts on social media gives the bullies exactly what they want.
• 2. Parents can ask their teens to save evidence, eg by capturing a screenshot of the post(s). This may help in the prosecution of cyberbullies if they are ultimately caught.
• 3. Parents can help their child report incidents to their school and, if necessary, to the police.
• 4. Teens can block the offender from their cell number or email address if applicable. They can unfriend and unfollow the offender.
• 5. Parents are well-advised to be sensitive to their teens’ feelings and encourage them to talk to a counselor, teacher, coach, or therapist. Discussing their feelings may go a long way to improve their self-esteem.
• 6. Adults can encourage the victim of cyberbullying not to blame themselves. It is not their fault. They can be counseled not to be ashamed or guilty, even in cases where they shared revealing photos or other material via social media that was used to victimize them.

Talking about cyberbullying with pre-teens and adolescents can be extremely valuable. Citing instances in which cyberbullying has led to adverse consequences may enlighten them about the extreme dangers of sharing personal information on social media.

[1] “Ditch the Label,” The Annual Bullying Survey 2017,
https://www.ditchthelabel.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/The-Annual-Bullying-Survey-2017-1.pdf

[2] S. Hinduja, J.W. Patchin “Cyberbullying Facts,” Cyberbullying Research Center 2023, https://cyberbullying.org/facts

[3] “Current perspectives: the impact of cyberbullying on adolescent health,” National Library of Medicine 2023, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4126576/